This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 3, 2011 - Former local TV anchor Rick Edlund is now the new voice for the Show-Me Institute, the free-market think tank based in St. Louis. Edlund began his new job today as communications director, and said he was excited about helping the institute's economic experts promote their findings.
Edlund said he was recruited by new executive director Brenda Talent, wife of former Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo. Jim Talent broached the post over lunch, Edlund said.
"The more I thought about it, the more I thought it made sense,'' said Edlund. "I want to help them get their message out.''
Edlund said he was excited about the institute's mission, which he saw as offering "fresh solutions to old problems."
Among other things, Edlund expects to do some "media coaching,'' and help with videos that the institute plans to post on its newly designed web site.
Edlund had been a regular on St. Louis broadcast television news since 1985, except for a brief stint in Detroit in the late 1990s. Edlund worked for KSDK, Channel 5, for 13 years, and later for KDNL, Channel 30, and KPLR, Channel 11. He was the chief anchor and managing editor at Channel 11 for five years, leaving in December 2008.